Charles Patkus

Charles Patkus, 92, of Disko, Indiana was called home to the Lord on [November 30th, 2024, passing peacefully at home with his family.

He was born June 12th, 1932, in Gilead, Indiana. He grew up in Chicago, Illinois before the family moved back to Gilead when Charles was 14. After graduating from Gilead High School, he went on to serve his country in the Air Force as a crew chief of an F94 aircraft and loved to tell stories of his fellow airmen and travels.  When he returned home from the service, he worked as an auto mechanic for his brother-in-law in Roann, which is where he met his wife, Beth, when she came in looking for a car to buy. He went on to work at Pierceton Trucking in Laketon, Indiana, as a diesel mechanic, where he remained for 32 years before retiring.

A storyteller and jokester, he loved making others laugh. He was an avid gardener and loved showing others the beautiful flowers he grew. He had a love of nature and the outdoors, and he always loved animals and had a way with them.

He was strong in his beliefs and values and demonstrated them in everything he did. But he was also a gentle, strong, and quiet man. He married the love of his life, Beth, on September 29th, 1962. In the 62 years they were married, he was devoted to her happiness and well-being.

Charles was preceded in death by his father and mother, Steven (1969) and Ruth (1984) Patkus, his brother Steven Junior (2005), and his sisters Marjory O’Connell (2015), Mary Hughes (2017), and Vivian Pugh (2022).

He leaves behind his wife Beth, daughter Barbara (Dan) Stelmach of Arizona, son Charles Dale Bradford of Roann, and daughters Laura (George) Sparks of Warsaw, and Angela (Kevin) Carrier of Church Hill, TN. His grandsons Anthony (Kelly) Bradley, Joshua Willard, and Christopher (Hannah) Stelmach, Vance Mattila, and granddaughters Jaime (Parker) Creson, Kristin Bradford, Beth (Steven) Crandall, Taylor (Jeremy) Webb, and Alyssa (Sterling) Power. He had 15 great grandchildren and one great-great grandson.

Charles was a family man and lived his life for his family as a provider, a husband, father, and example of how to be a person of honor and integrity. He was his family’s rock and will be deeply missed.

A memorial service will be held next year in the spring followed by burial at National Cemetery in Marion, Indiana.

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